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Having a child is challenging enough for new parents, but Gareth has been out of work as Rachel's full time carer since February, and Rachel suffers from serious fatigue – a common side effect of stroke.

She’s also found it hard to come to terms with how much her life has changed since.

Leo was born five weeks early - he was due right around the time Rachel had her stroke

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“It’s been very hard. I have a constant fear it’s going to happen again.

“But my family have been amazing and I’m going to keep improving.”

Rachel with mum Helen, dad Brian and son Leo

Doctors have been unable to pinpoint exactly what caused Rachel’s stroke, but think it could have been linked to thickened blood in pregnancy. They also identified that Rachel had a small hole in her heart, which could have played a role in the brain attack.

Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the UK, with almost two thirds of stroke survivors leaving hospital with a disability.

Shockingly, the average age of people having a stroke has decreased in recent years, too.

Rachel had an ischaemic stroke, which are caused by blockages which cut off the blood supply to parts of the brain and Josh had a haemorrhagic stroke, caused when a blood vessel bursts in the brain. Haemorrhagic strokes are generally more severe and are associated with a considerably higher risk of dying.

Josh Elleschild was on holiday in London when he suffered a stroke almost two years ago.

He didn’t present the well-known symptoms of the brain attack, but instead became very confused, disorientated and had pins and needles and weakness down one side of his body.

It was so different from the usual warning signs that he thought he had just trapped a nerve or was having a severe migraine.

Just minutes later Josh was unable to walk without support and had lost the use of the right hand side of his body, as well as sensation.

Josh in his studio (Image: Charlotte Turner)

The now 29-year-old has rebuilt his life slowly, but still struggles with his speech, extreme fatigue, numbness and memory problems.

Being a passionate musician has played a massive part in his recovery, having focussed his energy on setting up a music studio during his recovery, which drastically helped with his mental health.

But Josh still feels as if he’s been “robbed of his youth and vitality” following the stroke.

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Scans found Josh had a large bleed on his brain which caused the attack.

“I was in shock when I found out what had happened to me,” said the service technician who works for a Saltash bike distributor.

“I asked the specialist if I was going to die – she told me to call my family, and that we ‘just had to hope that the bleeding stops’.

“It was then that I accepted I was going to die.

Josh's studio which he has set up since his stroke (Image: Charlotte Turner)

“I couldn’t say who I was or where I was - I knew what I wanted to say but it wouldn’t come out.

“The simplest things became impossible, I could only use my left hand. My right hand side was like a lump of meat, I couldn’t even feel it.”

Josh was kept in Kings College Hospital for a week where he had daily physiotherapy to help him walk again, before being allowed to go home with a care package – but he was re-admitted into Derriford shortly after for three days.

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“I was physically stuck in the house and bedbound for a couple of weeks,” Josh added.

“As a result I developed sciatica which was the rawest pain I’ve ever felt.

“I had and still have trouble speaking and sometimes I can’t remember simple things.

(Image: Charlotte Turner)

“What was worse was the mental health side. I had crippling depression, and it took well over a year to find out what it was, but I was also suffering from intense derealisation – no one really knows what causes it.

“I was lucky I had a great family that pulled me out of it.”

Josh was able to gradually go back to work, returning on full time hours more than a year after the stroke.

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But even now, most days are a struggle to get through with the tiredness brought on post-stroke.

He added that since he’s had a taste of mortality he’s pushed himself to do more than he ever had before, and has embarked on setting up a music studio at Maker Heights on the Rame Peninsula to help make sure young people have the best lives possible.

“Although I felt like I was in the body of an 80-year-old, it does get better,” Josh added.

Josh has had to re-learn how to play all instruments since his stroke

“I wish I had someone to talk to about it who had gone through this at a young age to tell me that though.”

Duncan Goodman, support manager at the Stroke Association, said: “Around 1.2 million people in the UK are living with the devastating impact of stroke.

“Many people think that strokes only happen to older people, but a stroke can happen to anyone at any age, at any time, and when it strikes, every second counts.

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“While most people who have a stroke are older, younger people can have strokes too, including children. One in four strokes in the UK happens to people of working age.

“Stroke devastates lives in an instant, often leaving people facing a lifetime of disability. A stroke is a medical emergency, so recognising the signs and calling 999 for an ambulance is crucial. The quicker a person arrives at a specialist stroke unit, the quicker they will receive appropriate treatment.

Don't delay in calling 999 when you spot any signs someone could be having a stroke

“After a stroke, around one in three people like Josh have difficulty communicating, which can be both terrifying and isolating. But with the right help and support, many stroke survivors are able to find new ways to communicate, and can rebuild their lives.

“Simple everyday tasks, such as reading a text message, ordering a coffee or saying “hello”, can suddenly become a huge challenge. We know that communication support can give stroke survivors their independence again. Our support services like the Plymouth Communication Support service have helped thousands of stroke survivors regain their confidence and communication skills.”

The FAST test helps people recognise the most common symptoms of a stroke and the right action to take